Trocar assemblies for adapter assemblies for surgical stapling instruments

Abstract

A trocar assembly for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument includes a trocar mechanism that includes a trocar member that is at least one of rotatable or articulable relative to a housing of the trocar assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A trocar assembly for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument, the trocar assembly comprising:
 a housing including a tubular body and defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion of the tubular body including a threaded inner surface; 
 a trocar mechanism supported within the housing and movable between a retracted position and an advanced position relative to the housing, the trocar mechanism including a tubular member and a trocar member extending from the tubular member, the tubular member having a proximal section with a threaded inner surface; 
 a drive member rotatably supported within the housing, the drive member including a threaded proximal portion configured for engagement with the threaded inner surface of the housing and a threaded distal portion configured for engagement with the threaded inner surface of the tubular member; and 
 a drive connector in fixed rotational relationship and in dynamic longitudinal relationship with the drive member. 
 
     
     
       2. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive connector is maintained in a proximal position during advancement of the trocar mechanism by a plunger member and a spring. 
     
     
       3. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive connector includes a seal member, and the drive connector is biased in a proximal direction by a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
       4. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive connector includes a detent for engaging a drive shaft of a handle assembly. 
     
     
       5. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trocar member includes a tapered distal portion. 
     
     
       6. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trocar member includes a distal portion configured for piercing tissue. 
     
     
       7. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trocar member includes a distal portion configured to facilitate engagement with an anvil assembly. 
     
     
       8. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body of the housing is configured for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly. 
     
     
       9. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body of the housing defines a plurality of notches. 
     
     
       10. The trocar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trocar mechanism is secured within the tubular body of the housing with an end cap. 
     
     
       11. A trocar assembly for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument, the trocar assembly comprising:
 a housing including a tubular body and defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion of the tubular body including a threaded inner surface; 
 a trocar mechanism supported within the housing and movable between a retracted position and an advanced position, the trocar mechanism including a tubular member and a trocar member extending from the tubular member, the tubular member having a proximal section with a threaded inner surface; 
 a drive member rotatably supported within the housing, the drive member including a threaded proximal portion configured for engagement with the threaded inner surface of the housing and a threaded distal portion configured for engagement with the threaded inner surface of the tubular member; and 
 a drive connector supported within the housing and in fixed rotational relationship and dynamic longitudinal relationship with the drive member. 
 
     
     
       12. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drive connector is maintained in a proximal position during advancement of the trocar mechanism by a plunger member and a spring. 
     
     
       13. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drive connector includes a seal member, and the drive connector is biased in a proximal direction by a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
       14. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drive connector includes a detent for engaging a drive shaft of a handle assembly. 
     
     
       15. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the trocar member includes a tapered distal portion. 
     
     
       16. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the trocar member includes a distal portion configured for piercing tissue. 
     
     
       17. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the trocar member includes a distal portion configured to facilitate engagement with an anvil assembly. 
     
     
       18. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular body of the housing is configured for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly. 
     
     
       19. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular body of the housing defines a plurality of notches. 
     
     
       20. The trocar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the trocar mechanism is secured within the tubular body of the housing with an end cap.